When did paint bases start being produced clear? �I have never seen anything
but white for the base.- -



I was not very knowledgeable of this sort of clearcoat until the
earlier discussion and, later, speaking with a painter friend about
the discussion. There are different bases and they are numbered 1
thru 5. If I recall, the higher the number the more clear the base
will be, when applied or dry. I normally use waterlox for most
exterior pieces, but I was interested in testing a paint base as an
option for an exterior finish.

I've applied BLO on cypress and it has developed a blacken appearance,
that, from a short distance, looks like a build-up, but is not a build-
up, as with this swing. It just darkens, somewhat. The build-up on
the swing has to partially be dust and such, then it molds or
mildews. It may also be the finish, itself, is molding and/or
mildewing. I haven't started the cleaning, yet, to see what may
actually be going on.

My friend did mention the VOC issue, also, and the less availablity of
those types of finishes.

Sonny

The #5 base I used had a gray, opaque color in the can, but was clear
on application and when dry. My painter friend said the base has no
UV protection... that it is the pigments, normally added, that would
protect against UV damage. Again, on the swing, I can't see, yet, if
the finish, itself, has any damage. I certainly don't like the
blackened build-up and I attribute that to this base's resistance to
such build-up. The spar urethane didn't show any build-up, as this.
I didn't expect the spar urethane to last as long as it did, but the
swing was in good shaded cover.